Original Article PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILING AND ANTIBACTERIAL EFFICACY SCREENING OF AGLAIA MALABARICA SASIDH ARCHANA ELAMKULAM RAVINDRAN * , JOHN ERNEST THOPPIL Cell and Molecular Biology Division, University of Calicut, Kerala, India Email: erarchana0@gmail.com Received: 20 Oct 2017, Revised and Accepted: 12 Dec 2017 ABSTRACT Objective: Aglaia malabarica is an unexplored endemic forest tree belonging to the family Meliaceae. The present study was conducted to screen the phytochemical constituents of the leaf extract, to analyze the important secondary metabolites and to determine the antibacterial efficacy of the plant extract. Methods: Antibacterial activity was studied using agar based disc diffusion method. Four strains of bacteria were used for the antibacterial study that includes Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosae, Proteus vulgaris and Bacillus megaterium. Results: The presence of constituents like, carbohydrates, proteins, tannins, phenols, terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids and steroids were confirmed. Saponin was found to be absent. The secondary metabolites quantified were terpenoids, phenols and flavanoids, which were found in considerable amounts. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of all the bacteria studied was found to be 500 µg methanolic leaf extract. Conclusion: The plant extract was found to be highly potent against both the Gram positive and Gram negative strains and this property may be attributed to the potent phytochemicals revealed in the extract. Keywords: Aglaia, Antibacterial, Meliaceae, Secondary metabolites, Leaf extract, Phytochemicals © 2018 The Authors. Published by Innovare Academic Sciences Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22159/ijcpr.2018v10i1.24402 INTRODUCTION Aglaia, belonging to the family Meliaceae, is a genus composed of mostly evergreen trees of which many are endemic to a particular geographical region. The genus comprises of over 120 species that are mainly distributed in the tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world. Though studies have revealed many of the bioactivities of various species of Aglaia, only a few works have been conducted in the south Indian species. Most of them are important economically as they have edible fruits, scented flowers or medicinal properties. The complex biological relationships with their dispersal agents showcase the ecological significance of these trees. Certain species of Aglaia have traditionally been used for their medicinal and healing properties such as the treatment of fever, diarrhoea, inflammation and wounds. Extracts have also been used as bactericides, insecticides and also in perfumery [1]. Aglaia malabarica Sasidh. is a less explored plant that is endemic to the northern region of Western Ghats in Kerala. The active principles of many drugs of plant origin are secondary metabolites [2]. Hence, preliminary phytochemical profiling of the plant extracts for their major phytoconstituents is of much significance. The plants are able to sustain in different types of soils rich in microbes due to the antibacterial activity of these secondary metabolites. The qualitative phytochemical analysis reveals the chemical constitution of the plant extract and the estimation of the important secondary metabolites paves the way to investigate the biological activities of the plant. The bactericidal potential of plant extracts has been proved immensely by previous researches. Man has been using plants as the remedy for different ailments from very ancient time onwards. Even though remedies for this have been developed so early, the resistance capacity developed in the microbes has necessitated the improvement in the existing drugs or innovation of new ones. Thus, the present study aims to explore the immediate chemical constituents in the plant extract and estimation of some important secondary metabolites present in it. Bactericidal activity against two gram-positive and two gram-negative bacteria that are common potential human pathogens was also analyzed. This is a novel study that reports the phytoconstituents and bioactivity of the plant Aglaia malabarica. MATERIALS AND METHODS Collection of samples and bacteria The plant materials were collected from the tropical evergreen forests of Wayanad district, Kerala, India. The plant was identified at the Department of Botany, University of Calicut, Kerala, India (CALI no. 123754). The leaves were shade dried for seven days and crushed into powder using an electric blender and stored in a moisture free container at room temperature. The bacterial strains were procured from Microbial Type Culture Collection and Gene Bank (MTCC), Chandigarh, India. The strains used for the study are Bacillus megaterium (MTCC 428), Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 737), Proteus vulgaris (MTCC 426) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 424). Preparation of extracts The leaf was dried and powdered using an electric blender. Aqueous extract, as well as methanolic extracts, were used for the preliminary phytochemical profiling of the plant. The soxhlet extraction was followed by filtration, and then the plant extract was concentrated by evaporating to dryness under low pressure in a vacuum [3]. The dried methanolic extract was dissolved in DMSO and was used for antibacterial assays. Preliminary phytochemical profiling The presence of potent phytochemicals was screened using the aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts [4]. Test for carbohydrate: To 1 ml of the aqueous extract, a few drops of Molisch’s reagent was added followed by 2 ml of conc. H2SO4 through the sides of the test tube and observed for the blue colouration. To confirm the presence of carbohydrates, a few drops of the test sample was treated with Benedict’s reagent, boiled in a water bath and observed for the formation of a red precipitate. Test for proteins: To the test sample, Millon’s reagent was added and observed for the formation of white precipitate that turns red on heating. International Journal of Current Pharmaceutical Research ISSN- 0975-7066 Vol 10, Issue 1, 2018